title: Serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to epilepsy: a meta-analysis and meta-regression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Serotonin transporter (5-HTT) plays a central role in the regulation of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) synaptic function. Disturbances in 5-HT transmission are the most frequently reported neurobiological substrates of suicidal behavior. Emerging evidence has shown that the common polymorphisms in the 5-HTT gene may contribute to the risk of epilepsy, but individually published studies showed inconclusive results. This meta-analysis aimed to derive a more precise estimation of the associations between 5-HTT gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to epilepsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and China BioMedicine (CBM) databases was conducted on articles published before June 1st, 2013. Crude odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven studies were assessed with a total 1303 epilepsy patients and 1288 healthy controls. The meta-analysis results indicated that there was no significant relationship between 5-HTT gene polymorphisms and an increased risk of epilepsy. Further subgroup analysis based on ethnicity also found no significant association between 5-HTT gene polymorphisms and epilepsy risk among both Caucasian and Asian populations. In addition, there was also no significant association between 5-HTT gene polymorphisms and the risk of psychiatric comorbidity in patients with epilepsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, the current meta-analysis indicates that 5-HTT gene polymorphisms might not be the primary determinants of epilepsy susceptibility. 5-HTT genes might be expected to interact with other genes in different signaling pathways to initiate and promote the epileptogenic process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University , Dalian, China .
authors.forename: Kang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Zengchun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xinyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Minghai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D004827:Epilepsy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D039781:PubMed; D012307:Risk Factors; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins